OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Moorooduc Quarry

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society

REG NO.1239.3

HISTORY

The Mornington Peninsula and the bays of Port Philip to the east and Westernport to the west, formed as a result of movements along fault lines. The Selwyn fault which is still active, passes along the western boundary of the Peninsula with the block of land to the east. In 1854 Selwyn, after whom this fault is named, was the Government Geologist who investigated the economic potential of the developing colony. There is dissagreement as to when and where the quarrying began. B.Stennigen and J. Webster who bought the 390 acre Crown allotment from the original purchasers Walter Craig and J.O’Grady in the late 1850’s and kept this until the late 1890’s were lime burners and quarry masters by trade. It is likely that, owning one of the only three granite outcrops on the Peninsula at a time when road making and the creation of rail links were being undertaken at an increasing pace, they would have taken advantage of this in some way. Frankston Council commenced quarrying in 1921 and used the stone for decorative building work, road making, railway-line ballasting. In the 1940’s the floor of the quarry was taken down down to the lowest level possible that allowed natural drainage to occur. By 1954 the stone grade was becoming too soft for road making. The council continued to use it for some years as a road base but not for road surfacing. By 1960 the quarry was closed. Since then the quarry floor has become a deep lake with the cliffs ringed by large trees.

DESCRIPTION

This is a close up view of the cutting face of the quarry. It appears to be about 60 feet high. There are several men working, using a horse. Two trolleys are shown, on rail tracks.

SUBJECTS

Quarries

KEYWORDS

Moorooduc, Quarries